The Vesuvius Club

Text read: The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss, known for playing Mycroft Holmes and co-writing BBC's Sherlock, also: Doctor Who, The League of Gentlemen, and I saw him in the Donmar's production of The Recruiting Officer (See A Saturday in London); all around brilliant and talented individual.

Number of pages: 230

Number of reading days: 3

Why I read this book: Because I thoroughly enjoy Mark Gatiss's work and wanted to read his novel.

Thoughts:
This novel was fluffy and delicious. A very light and fun read, once I was pulled into the story. I just adored the language and word choice employed throughout the novel--quintessentially British and made me yearn for my London professor's hilariously witty lecture walks.

On the back of the book, the hero, Lucifer Box, is described as "equal parts James Bond and Sherlock Holmes, with a twist of Monty Python and a dash of Austin Powers." I'd say that's a pretty accurate description. I was constantly reminded of Oscar Wilde's work--of Lord Henry and Dorian Grey and The Importance of Being Earnest (must read more Wilde)--and of the 19th century Dandyism.

There were lots of rather ridiculous and unexpected moments throughout the story. Made for a rather pleasing reading experience that kept me wanting more. All and all, most enjoyable.

I was going to read the second and third Lucifer Box novels this summer, but I am running out of time. Also, I discovered that one of my favorite characters dies in between The Vesuvius Club and The Devil in Amber, making me a less motivated reader. Perhaps I will come back to these delightfully silly novels later in the year.

Favorite Passages & Quotes:

"A baroness once told me that she could cut her wrists on my cheekbones." (Does this sound familiar at all?)

“Somehow the flames in their bold brass stanchions felt like primitive torches in a secret tunnel. We all know the attraction of secret tunnels. When I was a boy, there was nothing in the world I wanted to discover more. It’s quite rewarding to finally have one at the office.”

“It was all quite ghastly and I was very fond of it.”

“I do beg your pardon, I was absorbed in the curve of your ear-lobes.”

“Young men often throw themselves at me. I’ve come to regard it as something of a burden.”

"'Oh, and Charlie?'
'Yes?'
'Do mind out for yourself. I fear you are becoming indispensable.'
The boy smiled and I felt a curious twinge as he closed the door after him. I thought at first it must be some undigested fancy from the Cafe Gambrinus but I finally recognized it as an almost alien emotion. Fondness."

"'I had considered all manner of delightful demises for you. But time is pressing and I really cannot imagine anything much worse than having the flesh boiled from your bones by a stream of superheated steam!'
Nor, for that matter, could I.
'Oh fuck!' was all I could manage. So much for last words."

“I smiled what my friends call, naturally enough, the smile of Lucifer.”

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For other books I'm reading this summer, see: Summer Reading List 2012